Mechanism control



R. S. HINSEY MECHANISM CONTROL March 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1948 Bnvontor Faber? 5. 9 66;! W

March 9, 1954 R. s. HINSEY MECHANISM CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1948 JNVENTOR E0 be 1 5. f/ma 55 BY ATT Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED 'i' ES PATENT UFFICE MECHANISIVI CONTROL Robert S. Hinsey, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The Bingham-Herbrand Corporation, Toledo, Ohio,

'a corporation of Ohio This invention relates to mechanism actuating or controlling devices and more especially to an arrangement particularly adapted for actuating or controlling brake mechanism of a vehicle.

The invention is inclusive of an actuating or control means for mechanism provided with a manipulating member adapted for movement in a longitudinal direction in combination with means for positively retaining the mechanism actuating member in adjusted position.

The invention includes the provision of a mechanism control device having a manipulating member arranged for longitudinal movement which is arranged .for movement in another di .rection to efiect a release .of a lockingmeans normally arranged to retain the member in a longi- .tudinally adjusted position.

The invention embraces the provision of an arrangement for actuating or controlling brake mechanism .of a vehicle in which a member is movable longitudinally to :actuate the brake mechanism to fset position incombination with -a retaining means for such member whereby a comparatively minute adjustment of the member :may be obtained.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of :a plurality of locking pawls of clutches cooperable with a longitudinally-movable .mechanismeactuating member whereby the member may be held in an adjusted position, the latter being capable of rotation in order to sheet a release of the pawl or clutch members.

Another object of the invention resides in the means :for mounting the .brake actuating device including a longitudinally movable member without any binding of the mechanism.

Another object of the invention resides .in :the provision of a pull type brake actuating device for vehicles embodying a longitudinally movable member and cooperating clutch means :for .retaining the member in adjusted position and whereby rotation of the member with respect to the clutch means effects a release of the membet, the member being urgedin one direction of rotation by an established initial torque of an element associated with said :member.

A further object of the invention resides in a mechanism actuating and controlling device em- :bodying a longitudinally movable actuating-member with clutch means for holding the member in adjusted position and embodying means affording limited rotational movement of said member to effects. release of the clutch means.

Further :objects and advantages are within the scope or this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of :parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing a form of mechanism actuating and controlling device of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the construction illustrated in Figure 2.;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken .sub stantially on the line 4--4-of Figure 2 Figure 5 is an end view of .a portion of the construction illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating one of the clutch members or pawls and the enclosure therefor;

Figure 7 is an isometric view illustrating one of the ,Pawls;

Figure 8 .is an isometric view illustrating a spring for use with a pawl;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1,.i1lustrating a modified form of the invention;

Figure :10 is a side elevational view, certain parts being shown in section, of the form of the invention shown in Figure 9 Figure 11 is a top plan view of the arrange- :ment shown in Fi ure 10;

Fi ure 12.is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line l2-l2 of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line l3l3 of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken substantially-on the line I l-l4 of Figure 10, and

Figure .15 is :a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line I.5-l5 of Figure 10.

While I have illustrated the mechanism actuator or control means of my invention "in an arrangement for actuating or manipulating emergency or parking brakes of a vehicle, it :is to be understood that I contemplate the utilization ofithe arrangementof my invention in conjunction with any type of mechanism where the same may be found to have utility.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I have i1- lustrated the embodiments of my invention mounted in a manner to actuate the emergency or parking brakes :of a vehicle and numeral 10 indicates a dash board of the vehicle and H a lower portion of the instrument panel. As per-- ticularly shown in Figure 1, there is secured to the dash board ID a bracket l4 upon which is pivotally mounted lever [5 upon a shaft or pivot pin I6. A clevis I! is connected to the lever [5 by means of a pin ill, the clevis being secured to one end of a cable I9 which passes through the dash board 10 and is connected to the brake mechanism of the vehicle (not shown).

In connection with the embodiment of th invention shown in Figure 1, the lever I5 projects upwardly and is connected by means of a pin or rivet 22 with a U-shaped fitting or bracket 23. The bracket 23 is provided with a cylindrical configuration 25 adapted to embrace the end portion of a member or bar 26. The forward edge portion of bracket 23 is formed with diametrically arranged recesses 21 adapted to accommodate the head portions 28 of a pin or rivet 29 which extends transversely through aligned openings in the walls of the tube 26. portion 32 disposed between the recesses 2'! forms abutment or limiting means for determining the extent of relative rotary movement of the tube or bar 26 with respect to the bracket 23. Re-

silient means, for example, a coil spring 35, having one end connected to the bracket 23 as at 3| and the other end connected to the member 26 serves to urge the bar 26 in one direction of rotation to maintain one of the heads 28 of rivet 29 in engagement with the abutment 32 in the manner shown in Figure 5. Means are provided for supporting the bar 26 including a member or plate 33 formed with openings to receive securing bolts 34 and nuts 35 whereby the member 33 is secured to a forwardly extending flange 36 of the vehicle instrument panel H. The member 33 is formed with a central portion 31 of cylindrical configuration which is aligned with spaced cylindrical portions 39 formed on a member 45, the portion 31 and 39 being connected together by means of a hinge pin 4|. Through this method of mounting, member 46 is arranged for pivotal movement about the axis of pin 4| and relative to the member 33. The member 49 forming part of the hinge construction is integrally formed with an extending portion 43 with which is associated a clutch or pawl mechanism for retaining the manipulating bar or tube '26 in adjusted portion. The member 46 is formed with an annular flange portion 44 forming a guide through which projects the bar 26. The outer extremity of the bar 26 is provided with a handle or hand grip 45 which is bored to accommodate the bar -2 6, a pin 46 serving to secure the handle 45 to the bar 26.

The member 40 is formed with spaced parallel wall portions 48 which form the means for positioning and supporting a housing or enclosure 49 within which is disposed the clutch or pawl means for retaining the tube 26 in adjusted position. The walls 48 are preferably spot welded to the housing 49 as indicated at 56. The housing 49 is of rectangular configuration and is provided with a closure plate 5| which is secured to housing 49 by means of overlapping ears or portions 52 of the housing 49 which engage the outer edge portions of plate 5|. The bar 26 is provided with a plurality of serrations 53 which form teeth 54 for engagement with the clutch or pawl mechanism to hold the bar or tube 26 in adjusted position. Slidably mounted within the housing 49 is a plurality of pawls 55, in the embodiment illustrated there being three pawls which are separated by means of comparatively thin discs or spacers 56. In this form of the invention, the pawls are of The projecting wall rectangular configuration and are arranged for vertical slidable movement within the housing 49, one of the pawls being shown per se in Figure 7. Each of the pawls is formed with a central opening 58 of the particular configuration illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 so as to permit relative rotation of bar 26 extending through the openings 58 in the pawls, the latter having substantially uniplanar or horizontal edge portions 59 which are adapted to cooperate with the recesses 53 in bar 26 to permit the pawls to engage teeth 54 in the bar to hold the latter in position. Each pawl 55 is urged in an upward direction under the influenc of a hairpin-like spring 60, there being an individual spring for each pawl as shown in Figure 4.

Through the utilization of three pawls, as shown in Figure 4, a comparatively fine adjustment of bar 26 may be attained as one of the three pawls 55 is in position to engage a tooth 54 in the bar 26. Thus cooperative engagement of the pawls 55 with the teeth 54 in the tube or rod 26 serves to restrain movement of the bar 26 in a left hand direction as viewed in Figure 1 until release is effected in a manner hereinafter explained.

The operation of this form of my invention is as follows: The mechanism actuating means of my invention as illustrated in Figure 1 is in brake-release position. When it is desired to effect a setting of the vehicle brakes the operator grasps the handle or grip portion 45 and exerts a longitudinal pull upon the bar or tube 26 withdrawing the tube through the housing 49 and member 43 during which action the pawls 55 override the teeth 54 formed on tube 26. When the lever l5 and cable l9 have been moved to a position to set the brakes, one of the pawls or clutch members 55 is in a position to engage a tooth 54 on the tube 26 to prevent return movement of the bar, thus retaining the actuating mechanism in adjusted or brake set position. When it is desired to release the brakes, the operator rotates the bar 26 through the medium of the handle 45 by turning the latter in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6 so that the teeth 54 are moved out of the zone of the edge walls 59 of the pawls 55 to the position shown in Figure 6. In this position the cylindrical or smooth portion of the tube 56 is then in engagement with the uniplanar edge walls 59 of the pawls so that the bar may be moved longitudinally in a reverse direction, viz. a left hand direction as viewed in Figure 1 to swing the lever I5 about its support I6 in a direction to release the brake mechanism. As soon as the operator disengages his hand from the handle 45 the spring 30, exerting a torsional pressure or rotative stress upon bar 26, automatically rotates the bar in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6 to bring the teeth 54 into the zone of the edge portions 59 of the pawls 55. The head of rivet 28 on the pin 29 engages the abutment 32 to position the shaft so that during succeeding longitudinal movements of the bar 26 toward brake-setting position, the teeth 54 thereon will be in cooperative relation with the pawls 55.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 9 through 15 inclusive is mounted in a manner to be supported by the instrument panel H and having an element extending through the dash board 10'. The arrangement of this form of the invention includes a mounting bracket 10 which is secured to the instrument panel by means of bolts H. An escutoheon-TIZ is provided having a portion 13 lying between the bracket 19 and the instrument panel and is also held in position by means of the bolts 1!. The escutcheon 12 has a depending portion '14 which surrounds the manipulating or pull bar '55 and serves as a guide for the latter. The pull bar '35 is provided with a T-shaped handle 15 which is secured to the bar by means of a pin 17. The bar it is provided with serrations forming spaced teeth It for cooperation with a clutch or pawl mechanism of the character shown in Figure 4.

The bracket 19 is formed with forwardly projecting wall portions 32 which are welded as at 82 or otherwise secured to a tubular member 83 which surrounds the bar 15, the latter being longitudinally slidable in the member 83. The forward portion of the member 83 extends through a grommet 9| carried in an opening in the dash board it. A portion of the wall of the member 83 is cut away as shown in Figure 10 forming a longitudinally extending slot 84 to accommodate the movement of an abutment or Pin 85.

The bracket supports a housing 87 within which is disposed clutch means in the form of three locking pawl's '88 of the character shown in Figure 4, and which are configurated with central openings 89 of the shape shown in Figure 12. The pawls being urged in a direction into engagement with bar '15 under the influence of hairpin springs 99 which are of the same configuration as springs 60. The pawls 88 are preferably slightly spaced apart by means oi comparatively thin discs or plates as in the construction shown in Figure 4. The housing 81 is closed by a plate 93 integrally formed with an annular flange 95 through which the bar 15 is arranged for slidable movement. The pawls 86 cooperate with the teeth I3 on the bar I to retain the latter in adjusted position. The housing 87 has projecting 'ear portions 94 which extend into recesses in bracket 19 as shown in Figure 10. The housing 8-1 is further secured to the bracket 19 by means of spot welding indicated at 96.

The bar 75 is arranged to be connected to the mechanism to be actuated by means of a flexible cable or member 99 which is provided at one end with a fitting 99., the latter being telescoped into the end portion of tube 15 as shown in Figures and 11. The fitting 99 is held in place upon the cable Y98 and .in the tube 75 by means of struck-up projections 199 which are formed by a suitable tool striking the exterior surface of the tube 75 at zones ml which forces the metal of the tube inwardly to form projections I 90 and drive the latter forcibly into the wall of the fitting 99 to cause the latter to securely grip the cable 98.

In the embodiment illustrated, the mechanism actuator of my invention is arranged to operate the brakes of a vehicle which are connected by a cable it! to a lever or member I03. The other end of the flexible cable 98 is connected to a clevis I 85 through the medium of an abutment or sleeve I95 of rectangular configuration as shown in Figure 16. The sleeve or abutment I06 is secured to the extremity of the cable by means of projections I97 formed by depressing zones I98 of the fitting in the same manner that the projections I00 are formed in the fitting 99. The clevis M is provided with openings to receive a pin I93 which extends through an open- 6 ing in the lever 103 and is secured in place by acotterkey ltd.

In order to resiliently and normally maintain the teeth 18 of the bar or tube 75 position for cooperation with the latching pawls 8 9 to hold the bar in adjusted position, the cable 93 is arranged to provide a rotative force acting to main tain the bar normally in such position. To ac complish this result, the cable 99 and clevis $95 together with the fitting or abutment I06 *are rotated or twisted about the axis of the cable so that after the clevis is assembled with lever 198 and the pin Hi3 inserted in position, an herent torque or rotative stress is thus "imparted to the cable which will exert a corresponding rot'ative torque upon the bar it so as to maintain the pin in engagement with the edge wall 9d of the slot 84 as shown in Figures Y19 and -14. In this position the teeth F8 are aligned with the interior uniplanar edge portionsoi the pawls 88 which are in position to cooperate with the teeth and hold the bar in adjusted or brake 's'e't position.

When it is desired to set the brakes, the vehicle operator grasps 'ie handle member 1'6 and withdraws the 'bar or tube #5 along itsl'ong'itu dinal axis, which movementaotuates-the lever "l 03 through the medium of the cable 98 to eifec'tset ting of the brakes. During such movement of the tube 75, the pawls d8 override the teeth H3 until the bar or tube it has been adjusted to brake-set position. In this position one of the pawls 88 under the influence of the spring "'90 is urged into interlocking or clutching relation with one of the teeth 58 on the bar and serves to prevent a retractive movement of the bar. When the operator desires to release the brakes or to retract the bar it, the handle it is "rotated through a sufiicient angle to movethe teeth 13 out of engagement with the locking edge portions of pawls 8, in the same manner as is done in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 8 inclusive, after which the bar may be moved longitudinally or retracted tobrakerelease position. After the bar has been retracted and the operator releases his grip upon the handie '76, the force of torque or twist in the cable "98 is sufiicient to rotate the bar about its longi-- tudinal axis to a normal position, that is, with the pin 85 in engagement with the wall 9*! of the recess or slot 84 in the tubular member or housing 83, which movement aligns the teeth 18 with the looking edge portions of the pawls 88 so that upon subsequent outward movement of the bar 15 the teeth '58 will be in a position to be engaged by the pawls 89. In this form of the invention the cable element 98 serves a dual function of connecting the bar as to the mechanism to be actuated and providing a rotative torque imparted to the bar 94 to resiliently maintain the latter in one relative position of rotation.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Mechanism actuating means including a longitudinally movable member; a bracket arranged to support said member; a hollow element associated with said bracket; the wall of said hollow element being formed with a longitudinally extending slot; a plurality of teeth formed in said member; locking means associated with said bracket for retaining said member in adjusted position; said member being relatively rtatable to move the teeth thereof out of effective engagement with the locking means; means connected to said member and the mechanism to be actuated including a flexible cable; said flexible cable being subjected to an initial rotative torque to urge said member to one position of rotation.

2. Mechanism actuating means including a longitudinally movable member; a bracket arranged to support said member; a tubular element secured to said bracket through which said member extends; said tubular element having a 1ongitudinally extending slot formed in the wall thereof; a plurality of teeth formed in said memher; a plurality of locking plates carried by said bracket and being arranged for slidable movement for engagement with the teeth in said member; said member being relatively rotatable to move the teeth thereof out of engagement with the locking plates for effecting release of said member; a flexible cable connected to said member; said flexible cable being subjected to an initial rotative torque to urge said member to one position of rotation.

3. Means for actuating the brake mechanism of a vehicle which includes a rod adapted for relative slidable and rotational movement; a bracket adapted to be connected to a support; said bracket having a tubular extension associated therewith for guiding said rod; said rod having a plurality of teeth formed therein; locking means carried by said bracket including a plurality of relatively movable locking members arranged for cooperation with the teeth in said rod for retaining the latter in adjusted position; said tubular extension having a longitudinally elongated recess; a lever adapted to be actuated; means for establishing a connection between said lever and said rod including a flexible cable; a clevis connecting said cable with the lever to be actuated;

said cable being subjected to an initial rotative torque to resiliently maintain said rod in a position wherein the teeth formed thereon are normally engaged by said locking means; a hand grip connected to said rod for manipulating the rod; and abutment means associated with said rod and engageable with the wall of the recess formed in said tubular extension for limiting the relative rotative movements of said rod.

4. A means for actuating brake mechanism of t,

a vehicle including in combination; a longitudinally movable member; a bracket; means for connecting said bracket to a support; a tubular extension associated with said bracket; said member extending through said tubular extension and having a plurality of teeth formed thereon; a plurality of resiliently mounted pawls carried by said bracket and transversely slidable with respect to the axis of said longitudinally extending member and arranged for cooperation with the teeth on said member to hold the latter in adjusted position; said tubular element being formed with a longitudinally extending recess; means including a flexible cable connecting said member with the brake mechanism; said flexible cable being subjected to an initial rotative torque for urging said member in one direction of rotation; and a hand grip secured to said longitudinally movable member for manipulating the latter.

5. Mechanism actuating means including a longitudinally movable member; a support for said member; a serrated surface formed on said movable member; locking means associated with said bracket and cooper-able with the serrated surface on said member for retaining the latter in a longitudinally adjusted position; said memher being relatively rotatable to disengage the locking means from operative engagement with the, serrated surface for releasing said member; a flexible cable connecting said member and the mechanism to be actuated; said flexible cable being subjected to an initial rotative torque to urge said member to one position of relative rotation.

ROBERT S. HINSEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 565,696 Smith Aug. 11, 1896 2,201,004 Chandler May 14, 1940 2,238,920 Studley Apr. 22, 1941 2,253,304 McGall Aug. 19, 1941 2,289,137 Matter July '7, 1942 2,304,356 Heller Dec. 8, 1942 2,329,722 J andus Sept. 21, 1943 2,377,691 Jandus June 5, 1945 2,608,881 Sandberg Sept. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 226,138 Switzerland June 16, 1943 

